HOPES PINNED ON NAVY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23972, 12 June 1943, Page 5

HOPES PINNED ON NAVY

ITALIANS WARNED OF INVASION THREAT

“FLEET READY TO REPEL ENEMY’S ATTACK” (Sec. 9 p.m.) LONDON. June 10. "The Italian Fleet is at action Stations,- ready to repulse the enemy’s attack,” said the Italian Under-Secre-tary of the Navy (Riccardi), broadcasting over the Rome radio on the occasion of Italy’s Navy Day. “Any moment now may be the eve of battle.” In an order to officers and men of the Navy, Riccardi said: “I call on you sailors to remember that Italy's future lies in your hands. I am full of confidence. Our future, in spite of the present adverse happenings, will be secure, but you will have to sacrifice your lives if necessary. The struggle will be long and hard.” Biccardi’s announcement followed a heavy barrage of internal propaganda aimed at stimulating the morale of uaval officers and men. All reports emanating from Italy indicate that the nation is pinning its hopes on the navy and its ability to counter the Allies’ coming amphibious operations. Italian newspapers are full of glowing tributes to the courage and skill naval commanders and men. One ladio commentator said: “The Italian neet is so very daring. It is there, le *dy, whenever it is needed.” Mobile Defence The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper “Allehanda” •ays: “It is pointed out here that except for the important naval bases there are no real coastal fortifications In Italy. These are impossible because the length of the coast. The Italian defence will therefore be mobile, With reserves left inside the country and rushed to landing points.” 'The Italians will defend the homeland to the utmost, if, as is probable, “is attacked,” says the Rome radio. The Italian forces believe that hard •nd even harder trials are still to co jn®> but they will resist them all.” The Rome radio, however, is preparing the nation for the loss of its •mailer Mediterranean islands. In the same sentence in which he referred to Lampedusa and Pantelleria, the annount recalled the heroic defence 'tyb and Zaghouan, at both ot ac . es t * ic Halians surrendered. lh ♦ r Telegraph” comments joat Ur reference in the broadcast to stoic resistance is similar to oat used by the Axis on other occasons when the situation of its forces «*«ne desperate. ,? orne radio announced that the , , y Day celebrations were held in a tor l? n ’ sevcre atmosphere. King Vic,_r.£JTian,uel made public appearances na distributed decorations.

German Comment -Commenting on the celebrations, the newspaper “Deutsche Allge- |" e *ne Zeitung” states; “Italy stands « '„? y 'f 1 the very centre of the debattle for Europe against the hj and Americans. She offers whi n l sp fu Ct of a nat ‘on in battle to closer ” the War has come closer and

rn J’°l°’ Japan's Prime Minister, in a entenSf . said: “We have now tk J he decisive stage where we n the East and West must annihilate en ® my on an extensive and lofty nro . goes without saying that the {Resent war is the largest in history. piiU’ ore ’ is natural that our diffiuiues must be unprecedented." to the Rome radio, Mus°uiu has ordered numerous local

government changes affecting 44 city prefects, of whom 24 will be changed from one city to another. Fourteen are removed from office. Half the cities mentioned by the radio have been heavily bombed or are in likely invasion areas.

It is significant that in the last six months Mussolini has changed all his Ministers, all his under-secretaries, all his chiefs of staffs in the high military command, and all the Fascist leaders—some of them more than once.

“Mussolini has brought Italy to the brink of a precipice.” states the Russian paper “Pravda.” "The blows against Sicily and Sardinia are so strong that Italy is confronted with the necessity of transferring aeroplanes to northern aerodromes.”